The Southern Steel claimed a 73-51 win over the Northern Stars in Auckland last night, retaining its unbeaten record five matches into the ANZ Premiership.
It also maintained its record of reaching 70 in every game this season, this time doing it while making a raft of changes, including a quarter without Jhaniele Fowler-Reid.
The game was essentially over at halftime.
The Steel racked up a 42-23 lead, its attack as slick as ever, pouncing on the sloppy play of the Stars.
Had it retained its starting line-up it likely would have reached 80.
However, with the win all but secured, it was a good opportunity to look deeper into its squad.
Only Wendy Frew, in her 150th game, remained in her original position as the team came out for the second half.
Playing its first of three games in six days, the Steel took the chance to give Fowler-Reid and Jane Watson breaks.
The absence of that duo was notable.
The Stars held the Steel to 12 goals in the third quarter, its lowest of the season, while scoring 15 itself to take the score to 54-38.
Without the target of Fowler-Reid, the Steel had to work harder to feed the shooters, putting up its fewest attempts of the game.
At the other end, the Stars were more accurate in getting the ball to Maia Wilson, who made 14 goals from 15 attempts in that quarter.
Fowler-Reid and Watson returned for the final period, as the Steel extended its margin, coming out on top 19-13.
It was in the first half that the damage was done, though.
The Steel showed how quickly it could blow a game open.
Within two minutes it had turned an 8-6 lead into a 13-6 lead, one which it was never going to relinquish.
The Stars shot well early on, but sloppy play resulted in them turning the ball over and limiting their shot attempts.
Meanwhile, the Steel was clinical, turning it over just once and shooting 22 from 23, Fowler-Reid a perfect 17 from 17, taking a 22-12 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter was more of the same, the Stars gifting the Steel too many turnovers at the attacking end.
The visitor ran rampant through the midcourt, Gina Crampton at her dynamic best and Shannon Francois showing all of her experience.
In the circle, the shooting duo of Fowler-Reid and Te Paea Selby-Rickit proved near-impossible to stop.
The Steel now has three days off, before games against the Northern Mystics and Central Pulse on Sunday and Monday in Invercargill.
